You are on page 1of 4

Human Rights

Democracy is one of the universal core values and principles of the United Nations. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. These values have been in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and further developed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which enshrines a host of political rights and civil liberties underpinning meaningful democracies. The rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and subsequent human rights instruments covering group rights (e.g. indigenous peoples, minorities, people with disabilities), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is particularly concerned by the issue of indigenous peoples as it deals with questions relating to their situation in terms of human rights, discrimination, gender equality, poverty eradication, democracy, sciences and social transformations, including urbanization and migration. are equally essential for democracy as they ensure an equitable distribution of wealth, and equality and equity in respect of access to civil and political rights. In the United States, the term minority groups can be applied only in an extended sense. All citizens of the United States belong legally to a single American nationality; there are no laws that regulate the political status of any group of citizens according to their or their ancestors national origin. Moreover, there is no single nationality group in the United States that either forms a numerical majority or enjoys a de facto political dominance; this state of affairs has existed at least since 1830.

Since 2005, USAID has provided 100 grants to 79 organizations in 54 countries. Over half of these awards are to local disabled peoples organizations. Then in turn provide help for the need and the disabled. The Rule of Law and Democracy Unit stands as Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) focal point for democracy activities. The Unit works to develop concepts and operational strategies to enhance democracy and provide guidance and support to democratic institutions through technical cooperation activities and partnership with the relevant parts of the United Nations, (UN) notably the UN Democracy Fund, the Department of Political Affairs and the newly established UN Working Group on Democracy. Legal and expert advice are provided as required to OHCHR field operations on relevant issues such as respect for participatory rights in the context of free and fair elections, draft legislation on national referenda and training activities. The former Commission on Human Rights adopted several landmark resolutions. In 2000, the Commission recommended a host of legislative, institutional and practical measures to consolidate democracy (resolution 2000/47). In 2002, the Commission defined the essential elements of democracy in resolution 2002/46. Two expert workshops were organized by OHCHR under the auspices of the Commission, in 2002, with a report presented in 2003 and in 2005 (Comment 8: CHR.reportseminar.58.E.doc), on the inter-linkages between democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Their deliberations contributed to a better understanding of democracy underpinnings in international law; and in identifying challenges leading to democratic deficits in both contexts, mature and emerging or resorted democracies.

On 8 November 2007, the General Assembly proclaimed September 15th as the International Day of Democracy, inviting Member States, the United Nations system and other regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the Day. OHCHR contributed to the Info-Kit produced by DPI for public distribution to commemorate the first International Day of Democracy in September 2008. On September 15 2009, the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a press release to commemorate the second International Day of Democracy. Further guidance on the various dimensions of the interrelation between democracy and human rights can be obtained in General Comment 25, and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2000/47 and 2002/46. 2000/47 Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming that one of the basic aims of the United Nations is to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, color, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
2002/46 Recalling the universal validity of the values of freedom, respect for human

rights and the principle of the holding of periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage and by secret ballot which are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and various regional instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Bibliography

"united nations human rights." . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2014. <http://www.ohchr.org/en/Issues/RuleOfLaw/Pages/Democracy.aspx

"Indigenous Peoples." . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan 2014. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/indigenous-peoples/social-inclusion-and-social-change/>.

You might also like